Beschreibung:

Sold by Order of the Family The important Indian Mutiny C.B. group of six awarded to Captain James W. Vaughan, Royal Navy, Senior Lieutenant of Shannon’s Naval Brigade who succeeded to its command following the wounding and death of Captain Sir William Peel, V.C., K.C.B. The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1858, maker’s mark ‘WN’ for William Neale, complete with gold swivel-ring suspension bar and gold ribbon buckle; Baltic 1854-55 (Lieut. I. W. Vaughan. R.N.) contemporary engraved naming; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut. I. W. Vaughan. R.N.) contemporary engraved naming, clasp loose on ribbon as issued; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Comr. Jas. W. Vaughan. Shannon.); Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, pierced with small rings for suspension, the last five all fitted with silver ribbon buckles, contained in a glazed mahogany case with ornate gilded plaster internal frame, toned, good very fine or better (6) £12000-15000 Footnote Sold with a framed portrait in oils of Captain Vaughan wearing his earlier awards, image 33x25cm., signed and dated ‘I:O. 1860’; and a silver goblet, hallmarked London 1855, overall height 183cm., inscribed ‘Presented to the Ward Room Officers of H.M.S. Shannon by Lieutts. Wratislaw, Hale, Gardiner, R.N. and Lieut. Studdert, R.M.A. As a token of their sincere Gratitude for the Kindness shewn to them when Super.ies [Supernumeraries] on their passage to China in 1857.’ The story of Shannon’s Naval Brigade during the Indian Mutiny is well told in The Devil’s Wind by Major-General G. L. Verney, and Naval Brigades in the Indian Mutiny, edited by Commander W. B. Rowbotham, R.N., for the Navy Records Society, besides the several personal accounts published by those who took a part in these events. The following extracts serve to emphasise Vaughan’s services: When writing his despatch after the action on the 6th, Sir Colin Campbell did not forget to include a meed of praise for the Naval Brigade. ‘I must draw attention to the manner in which the heavy 24-pr. guns were impelled and managed by Captain Peel and his gallant sailors. Through the extraordinary energy and good will with which the latter have worked, their guns have been constantly in advance throughout our late operations, from the relief of Lucknow till now, as if they were light filed pieces, and the service rendered by them in clearing our front has been incalculable. On this occasion there was the sight beheld of 24-pr. guns advancing with the first line of skirmishers... Captain Peel has brought to my favourable notice Lieutenant Vaughan, R.N., and I should much wish that this recommendation may be known to the Admiralty.’ Lord Canning also fully appreciated the services rendered by the Shannon’s Brigade. ‘On this, as on every occasion in which danger was to be faced and difficulty overcome, Captain Peel R.N., commanding the Naval Brigade, was foremost in intrepidity and resource. Lieutenant Vaughan and the other officers and men of H.M.S. Shannon are worthy of their brave commander; and it is a pleasure to the Governor-General in Council to declare his warm admiration of their conduct.’ ‘On January 1st, 1858, a column under Brigadier Hope was sent forward to prevent the further destruction by the rebels of the iron suspension bridge over the Kallee Nuddee, near Futtehghur, and with it went two 24-prs. and one 8-inch howitzer (double crews) under the command of Lieutenant Vaughan. The rebels retired on the approach of the British troops, and the R.E. working parties, assisted by the seamen, immediately set to work to repair the bridge. By 7.30 a.m. next day the essential repairs had been practically completed and the bridge was in a fit state to be traversed. The sailors had just begun to wash their clothes when Sir Colin Campbell ro